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Ithaca College Names James Simpson as Interim Business School Dean

ITHACA, NY — Ithaca College has announced the appointment of James Simpson as interim dean of the School of Business. Following a lengthy teaching and administrative career at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Simpson retired in 2011 and is currently distinguished professor emeritus and principal research scientist in the university’s College of Business Administration.

He will begin his term at Ithaca College on July 1, replacing Mary Ellen Zuckerman, who was named provost and vice president for academic affairs at the State University of New York College at Brockport.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Simpson join us as an established senior administrator who brings faculty experience along with innovative and entrepreneurial success to the School of Business,” said Linda Petrosino, interim provost and vice president for educational affairs. “He is well-positioned to work with the school’s students, faculty, and alumni during the coming year.”

Simpson began his teaching career at Huntsville in 1990 and progressed through the academic ranks to become the first distinguished professor in the College of Business Administration. He also held positions as chair of the Department of Management and Marketing and as director of the Center for the Management of Science and Technology. Simpson has published his research in the leading academic journals in his field and has secured over $3 million in research grants and contacts. He has served as a visiting professor and scholar at leading universities in Ireland, Taiwan, China, France, Russia, Romania, and England. He also served as president of the American Marketing Association’s Technology and Innovation Special Interest Group.

From 2008 to 2010 he served as interim dean of the college, during which time he developed and implemented a new strategic plan, created programs that established formal relationships with Tsinghua and Hohai Universities in China, and obtained reaccreditation from AACSB International–The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Prior to joining the Huntsville faculty, Simpson had served as executive director for university advancement and executive assistant to the president at UAH.

Simpson earned his Ph.D. in marketing and applied statistics from the University of Alabama and holds B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is also an alumnus of the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard University and College Business Management Institute at the University of Kentucky.